Mohammed Yasser Afzal: detectives are trying to trace a man who was carrying a JD Sports plastic bag and wearing a hat

The family of a taxi controller knifed to death in east London today paid tribute to him as police revealed they are hunting a man seen fleeing the scene dressed in a deerstalker hat.

Yasa Afzal was stabbed seven times in the neck, back and torso by a man inside his office at Access Cars in Broadway, Stratford.

The 22-year-old was rushed to the Royal London Hospital after the attack on Monday but died later.

Today his cousin told the Evening Standard that Yasa was a “bubbly and helpful” young man who loved his family.

Mohammed Arfan Khaliq said: “He was popular for all the right reasons - bubbly, helpful to everyone in the family and community. He was in the office on his own, he didn’t stand a chance.

“He cannot be replaced, he was so special to everyone. Yasa loved kids and family, we are in shock. He wasn’t a fighter like others it just wasn’t him. He never spoke of having problems with anyone, he was well-liked. He just worked and came home all the time.”

Ishtiaq Ahmed, another of the victim’s cousins, said : “We just ask everyone to pray for our son. He had no enemies, we just don’t understand it. We don’t know who could have done this.”

Yasa was working alone in the office, answering phone calls and dispatching taxis, when he was attacked at around 8pm.

Detectives say they are trying to trace a man seen entering the cab office for a brief moment around the time of the attack. The man was seen leaving and running towards Chant Street .

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, who is leading the inquiry, said : “We know the man was carrying a 'JD Sports' drawstring plastic bag and was wearing a distinctive deer-stalker type hat which has flaps covering his ears. I would urge anyone who may have seen him running towards Chant Street or nearby to call the incident room as soon as possible."

Police also appealed for people who were waiting at a bus stop outside the cab office or people on buses which stopped there to contact them.

Witnesses said a large crowd gathered around the office after the incident but that everyone seemed “calm”.

A by-stander, who declined to be named, said : “I was surprised to hear the boy had died but it does happen a lot in the area. The family are lovely - the boy and his brothers have always been really good, decent guys.

“It’s tragic but it happens here. The place is full of wolves. This will happen a thousand times over.”

Daniel Downes, who owns Swagga bar next door to Access Cars, said police tried “desperately” to save the young man’s life.

“I watched two officers fighting, in all that blood, to resuscitate him for a good while.”

Another man, who is thought to have been a friend of the victim, was killed several months ago in a similar attack, it was claimed.